David B. Williams, 87, USAF veteran, Wimberley, TX, 21 July 2025

[markwells]

Confirmed mission: The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited to participate in the “last ride” of David Bruce Williams.  Mr. Williams served active duty n the USAF from March 1961 to September 1964 and continued in the Reserves until March 1967.  He left the service as an Airman Second Class.  He was a life-long motorcycle rider, and toward the end of his life requested that he be taken on a “last ride” after he passed.  His son has invited the PGR to participate in this memorial event, and it is our honor to do so.

His obituary is not yet posted.

Date/Time: Monday, 21 July 2025.  See timeline below.

Staging Location: Hays City Store & Ice House, 8989 Ranch to Market Rd 150, Driftwood, TX 78619.  map link

Timeline:
3:30 pm – briefing
3:35 pm – KSU for the Williams residence, about 10 minutes away. We’ll follow his son Eric riding his dad’s Spyder.
3:45 pm – Dismount and visit with the Williams family and present a PGR challenge coin.
4:00 pm – KSU heading to the Salt Lick BBQ restaurant in Driftwood, about a 30 minute ride.
4:30 pm – Arrive at the Salt Lick. Mission completed.

Wx: Partly cloudy, high 96 deg F

Notes: Fly your big flags!   Mr. Williams remains will be carried by his wife and son riding his father’s Spyder, and the procession will include other family members on MC’s.    Motorcycles only in the procession please.  There will be no flag line.

Ride Captain: Patti Hutto, patti.donlon@gmail.com, (512) 636-6374
Flag Wrangler: N/A

Please join us in honoring the service of this airman and comforting his family in their loss.

[Patti Hutto]

5 PGR patriots and 2 family members formed the procession line at the staging area located at Hays City Store and Ice-House in Driftwood, TX. There were a total of 3 trikes and 4 motorcycles with large American flags unfurled on display, along with the Air Force Branch flag. The weather was in the mid 90’s with cloud overcast, which provided the necessary obstruction of the blazing sun for the 1 hour 10 minute ride (from Liberty Hill) to the Hays City Store and Ice-House. The son and son-in-law of Airman 2nd Class David Bruce Williams wanted to surprise their Mom (David’s Wife) and their immediate family with the motorcycle escort from their cabin retreat to the Salt Lick in Wimberly. When we pulled up (they could hear us coming a mile away), there was not a dry eye in the group.

We greeted the family, and one by one gave Mrs. Williams (aka Mom) a hug. We then presented her with a PGR coin. After a brief introduction of who we are and where we rode in from, it was KSU for the ride to the Salt Lick. The Son from Houston and his Mom led the procession on David’s Spyder (with the Urn) for one final motorcycle ride. One of the Grand Daughter’s Molly also hopped on one of the PGR trikes for the procession.

It was amazing, that without a LEO escort how the traffic allowed our procession to wind our way through the traffic circle, through two 3-way stop signs in order not to break up our procession. We had one minor hic-up when the procession passed the entrance to the Salt Lick. With me as Ride Captain on my Spyder, brining up the rear I turned successfully into the parking lot and honked my horn to indicate they over-shot the entrance. They were successful in pulling off to the shoulder and turning around into the entrance.

Two of us PGR stayed to have dinner with the family. It was 5pm and rush-hour traffic through Austin was my rationale. Plus, who can refuse a good BBQ. The family generously picked up our tab, which we were humbled by and graciously accepted. Also, on a side note, my cell phone battery was practically dead, and my remote battery pack was also dead. The family had a charging battery, and I was able to charge my phone enough percentage to have google maps direct me home from the Salt Lick.

All in all, it was a fantastic mission. The family was pleasantly surprised. It was fun hearing stories about David, that he liked motorcycle rides, and collecting hats along all his trips. The Son had a box of hats, some which were never worn, and handed each family member a hat to wear. The other story, was David’s Spyder. It sat approximately 3 to 5 years, un-ridden. The Son from Houston and the Son-In-Law from Oklahoma worked on the Spyder, replaced the tires and fuel plugs, and it started on the first try. David was ready to go on his final ride. They trailered the Spyder from Houston to the cabin retreat in Wimberly, TX. What an amazing tribute to an amazing man (Husband, Father, Grand Father).

[Author]

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